Jalen Hurts establishes himself as the quarterback in come-from-behind win
OXFORD, Miss. – True freshman quarterback Jalen Hurts was the University of Alabama's leading rusher Saturday, finishing with 18 carries for 146 yards as No. 1 Alabama defeated No. 19 Ole Miss, 48-43, in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.
“He’s putting the team on his back and showing everyone that we can count on him,” defensive back Eddie Jackson said. “We have a lot of respect for that.”
Hurts became the first Alabama quarterback to rush for more than 100 yards since Tyler Watts in 2001, also against Ole Miss. Hurts’ ground total slates him fifth for quarterback single-game rushing yards, too.
The 6-foot-2, 209-pound Texas native didn’t score a touchdown on foot, but he came close during the fourth quarter. He ran 5 yards into the right corner of the end zone, but was declared out of bounds at the 1-yard line. The moment Hurts took the field, Alabama was already behind, 7-0. Running back Damien Harris recorded the first offensive yards for Alabama, but Hurts followed through on the second play, hitting tight end Hale Hentges with a 3-yard pass. That drive ended with an Alabama 32-yard field goal by Adam Griffith.
“He’s really turned into a great leader,” Harris said. “He does a great job trying to settle down the offense and keep us cool, calm and collected.”
Hurts played the entire contest at quarterback for the first time, not splitting time as he finished with an all-around total of 304 yards. Alabama went into halftime trailing by a single touchdown, 24-17. By that time, Hurts had completed 16 of 23 passes 89 yards and ran the ball nine times for 52 yards. By game's end, he was 19 of 31 for 158 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions.
“We’ve still got to work on the passing a bit,” coach Nick Saban said. “It’s not that he can’t throw it — he can throw it. We just have to get him more comfortable reading, making quick decisions and getting the ball out of his hand."
Hurts re-established his position behind the offensive line, but started the second half with an incomplete pass intended for Calvin Ridley. Hurts connected his second pass to the same wide receiver, but Ridley dropped it.
So Hurts took matters into his own hands the next play, running 11 yards for a first down. Hurts proved his mobility, closing out with a long run of 41 yards. He was also responsible for seven Alabama first downs.
Harris labeled Hurts as tough. Hurts was sacked twice and put under pressure four times by the Ole Miss defense, but he repeatedly got up.
“He’s a phenomenal player,” Harris said.
Saturday’s game also marked Hurts’ first SEC test, a weighted one at that since the Rebels held back-to-back victories over the Crimson Tide.
“You can’t say enough about Jalen,” offensive lineman Ross Pierschbacher said. ”Just being a true freshman and coming into an environment like this, it’s hats off to him.”